noun
Refers to sexual purity, moral integrity, and faithfulness, especially in a marital context. Often used in formal or literary settings.
彼女は貞操を守り通した。
She remained chaste throughout her life.
貞操の観念は時代とともに変化してきた。
The concept of chastity has changed over time.
Composed of 貞 (てい, 'chastity, virtue') and 操 (そう, 'principle, fidelity'). The combination has been used in Japanese to denote moral integrity and sexual purity since at least the early modern period.